The newly renovated Sunnyside Conservatory in San Francisco’s Sunnyside neighborhood will open its doors Saturday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to the construction company contracted to upgrade the historic the building.
The 111-year-old conservatory was originally part of a larger private estate built at the turn of the 20th century and once housed a large collection of plants, according to BCCI Construction Company.
The conservatory later became a designated city landmark and, since the city took ownership in 1980, it has been used as a makeshift site for weekend art workshops and other community events, but lacked the space and accommodations to adequately support the programs.
The city, along with Friends of the Sunnyside Conservatory, made plans to renovate the building while preserving its historic integrity, BCCI Construction reported.
The 10-month construction project included reinforcing the building’s structure, making seismic upgrades, working on the facade, improving security, making the building accessible to people with disabilities and completing new landscaping and irrigation systems. Throughout the renovation process, the company used materials and colors that matched the building’s original work.
The building will now be used as a community center and will be available for rent for private events.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the conservatory at 236 Monterey Blvd.
